Electric switch



W. C. MASON ELECTRIC SWITCH Feb. 27, 1951 Filed March 10, 1947 IN VENTOR.

4 T TOP/V5 Y Patented Feb, 27, 195i UNiliEfi STATES PATENT OFFICE Myinvention relates to electric switches and particularly to switches foruse on storage batteries such, for example, as the storage batterieswith which motor vehicles, boats, aeroplanes, and the like, are quipped.

A switch, by means of which the operator of a motor vehicle may cut thestorage battery out of the starting, lighting and ignition circuits,would be a very desirable accessory not onl when short circuits in thewiring develop but also when it is necessary to repair the wiring or toremove or install any instruments or other accessories which arenormally connected to the battery. By cutting the battery out of thecircuits at the battery itself, all danger of sparking, blown fuses,fused parts, and fires due to accidental short circuits, while workingon the car, or when the car is parked or stored, is entirely eliminated.Furthermore, if the switch is of such design that the operating meansmay be positioned so that it is always within convenient reach of theoperator, delays in cutting the battery in and out of the circuits willbe avoided. Such a switch would be particularly useful in preventingfires where many cars are stored or parked in close proximity to eachother by it quite impossible for disastrous short circuits to develop inany car equipped therewith, provided the switch is turned to the offposition efore the car is left.

One of the objects of invention is to provide a simple, compact switchwhich may be attached directly to one of the terminals (preferably thegrounded terminal) of a storage battery, thereby eliminating all liveparts or conductors beyond the battery itself. Another object is toprovide a switch of this character in the form of a comparatively smallunit but which is capable of carrying, without overheating, the verheavy currents necessary when the engine starting motor is beingoperated. Another object is to provide a storage battery switch which isexteriorly insulated substantially throughout, except for the terminals,so that the exposure of live elements is reduced to a minimum. A furtherobject is to provide a switch of this character which may be easilymanufactured, assembled and disassembled, and in connection with which asimple, remote control means may be installed in any one of variouspositions relative to said switch, depending upon the choice of theoperator.

I accomplish these objects by means of the novel elements and thecombinations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is an exploded, perspectiveview of all of the essential elements of my switch except the casing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the casing with certain portions brokenaway to show the interior construction;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection of the switch showing th various partsin assembled relation with the switch in the 01? position;

Fig. 4 is a section through the cylindrical element shown in Fig. '1 inthe plane 4-4;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the switch in the on position;and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation view of a storage battery showing myswitch attached thereto.

Referring to the drawinga My switch comprises a cylindrical male elementI, having the cylindrical surface thereof formed of two separatemetallic elements 2 and 5 which are secured together by a core l ofmoldable, insulating material, such, for example, as Bakelite.

The inner faces of the elements 2 and 3 are provided with re-entrantportions 5 into which the moldable material flows and secures the partstogether, as shown in Fig. i.

Cooperating with the cylindrical element i and forming a bearing inwhich said element floats are two female, substantiallysemi-cylindrical, jaw-forming elements 6 and l which, when in engagementwith the element l, are slightly spaced from each other, as shown at 5and 9 in Fig. 3. The element 6 is provided with a female terminal iiihaving an inverted, irusto-conical passage H therethrough adapted to fitover one of the terminals of a storage battery and to be clamped theretoby means of a clamping bolt (not shown) extending through the passage52. The element 7 is provided, on the back, with a threaded stud I3which is adapted to receive a frusto-conical male terminal Hi which isinternally threaded, as shown at E5, and which is adapted to haveclamped thereto the conductor l6 (see Fig. 6) which would normall beconnected to the storage battery terminal but which is removed in orderto attach the switch thereto.

I1 is the casing within which the various elements are assembled bysimply sliding them therein through the open end l8 oi the casing. Therear of the wall of the casing is provided with a passage i9 which issomewhat larger in diameter than the shoulder ill on the stud l3 so thatsome play is provided therebetween.

The interior of the rear wall of the casing ii is provided with the lugs2| and 22 which are provided at the top and bottom with steps 23 and 24,and fiat springs 25 and '26 are retained in place between the steps andthe top and bottom, respectively, of the casing, as shown in Fig.

3. The rear wall of the element 7 is provided at the top and bottom witha central projection, such as shown at 2! in Fig. 1, which are designedto abut the springs and 26, as shown in Fig. 3. The side of the casingis also provided with a passage 28:;adapted topass the bifurcated,staple-.- like, operating element 29, shown in Fig. 1.

In assembling my switch, and assuming the casing to be held with theopen end up, the springs 25 and 25 are first dropped into position. inthe bottom of the casing; the element l is then 15 inserted and the maleterminal I l threaded there-- on. The cylindrical element i, whichfloats be.-- tween the jaws of elements 5 and l, is then dropped intoposition in the element I and the element 6 is inserted in engagementwith the element ,1. In. order to hold the parts in assembled relation,I .providetwopins 307 and 3t which pass through openings 32 and 33,respectively; in thesidesof the .casing and through the; passages3G.and.iE5-, respectively, iii-the element 6.- When 1 the parts areloosely assembled as describe above;-.the passages in the element 9 notin precisealignment with the pin passages in the casing and it isI18QSStTytOilGTSS the element 6 firmly into the casing se-that the. fiatsprings 25 and 25 are slightiy-iiexedfand stressed in order-- to'bringthe pin passages in alignment with each other whereupon the. pins besimply pushed. intoplaceu, Because the springs 25 and 2e -arefiexed-.and;under-stress when theparts-are as-- sembled, it will beapparent that theiemale elements; 6 and"? are heldxin firmcontact-with-the male element; l. Aier the parts are-assembled, theoperating-element 29. is merelypushed-into. thepassages 3E and 2'! inthe cylindrical 818-14 ment 1.

Secured to the element 29 is an index plate 55," preferably having anarrow 39 thereon. When the parts are :in the positionShOfi/ll'illjFlQ-Se: l and 3, theswitch is in the oi? position and the;arrow 39 will point upwardly. However, by rning the. cylindrical elementclockwisethrcugh .an angle of 90, the switch will be the 'on posietionand the arrow will beinthe positiomshown inFig. 5. In order to providepositive stops at n the on and off positions, a projectiongtla havingsurfaces-fit. and 2'(see.-Figs.--2 and 15) which are normal to the :sideof the casing, is: molded on theoutside of the casing adjacent the;upper left hand corner, as viewed in Fig.2. fw'hen the switch. is in theon position theindex abuts the surface 62, as shown in F1 5, and-when inthe 01? position; it abuts the surface-d Inorder to attach my switch tothe battery; it is only ry to remove one of the -con- I ductors 16 (seeFig. 6) from the, storage battery terminal and attach it to the maleterminal :5 of. the switch, and then to attach thefemaletere minal id ofthe switch to the terminal or" .the. battery -1'romwvhich theconductor.Hi connected.

In order. to operate the switclrfrom-a remote point, I provide-a rodfill-having a hooked-end 2 thv which engages'in the operat ng element29?.and: which may be provided at th other. end witlra 70 knurled buttonby which the rod 43 'andthe opera-ting element 29 may be turned.ThehOGKbdf end of the rod-43 and the e ement 29 cooperate to form .whatis substantially a universalcoupling ac. pus

was dis-.

the positioning of the rod 43 and its button 45.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that, when the switch is in theon position, the stationary elements 6 and l are bridged andelectrically connected at the top and bottom by the metallic elements 2and 3 on the movable cylindrical element, and these elements may be madelong enough and thick enough to provide an electrical connection of anydesired cross sectional areabetween the elements 6 and I and to providesufficient area of-contact between the stationary and movable elementsto carry any current without over-heating.

Itwill also be apparent that, as distinguished from most other switchesin which wear of the contacts impairs the operation and efficiency ofthe switch, the more my switch is used, the better the contacts becomebecause any high points on thexcontacting surfaces will wear down andthe elements will become substantially lap-fitted together; By reason ofthe facts that the cylindrical element l floats between the jaws ofelements-6 and I, and these last mentioned ole-.- ments are relativelymovable in the casing, these parts, which cooperate to conduct thecurrent; through the. switch,- are self al gning, and;.thus perfectelectrical contact is maintained between the jaws -.and .the. element 1throughout the en-' tirecylindrical areas of the j aws.

While I have described my invention in. its. preferred embodiment, it isto be understood that the. words which I hav used ar -words of:descriptionrather thanof limitation and that changes,. withinthe-piuviewofv the appended.- claims, may be made without departing fronr: thetruescopeand spirit of my'inventicn inits broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising a casingi formedof insulating material,a pair of spaced;- metallic,jaw-forming elements within "rid oasing'relatively movable towards anda .ay from. each other:- and laterallydefine, betweenrjaws, a substantially cylindrical spacey-a i...oating;cylinder rotatably mounted in said space .in cone-.1 tact with saidjaw-forming elements and main-y taining said elements .in, slight'yspaced reel 1.. tion; at least:one of said jaw-forming elements beingmounted. to float within said casing; and. said. cylinder-being mountedto float in all directions, whereby-said jaw-forming, elements. and.said cylinderare self-aligning, thereby. main-. taining substantiallyconstant overall contact throughout their contacting areas; the surface;or" said. cylinder comprising two diametri c -ly op:-.. posed metalportionsv spaced by portions formed; of insulating.material; resilientmeans within said casing biased .to urge said jaw-iorming ele-a ments.intoclose contact with said cylinder to: form a bearing therefor, meansextending-.1- through saidcasing and cooperati pwith said cylinder formanually rotating the s ie to bringthe metal portions of the surface oisaid c into andout of contact witheach of forming elements-electricallyto connect and connect the same, and means on each of said j aw-formingelements extending exteriorly of said casingandiorming a terminal ofsaid sryitcha; one .o1"' said terminal forming means having afrusto-conical passage therethrough adapting it for direct attachment toa frusto-conical tfilini nai of a storage. battery.

2. A rotary switch adapted for direct attach-=- ment. to theterminalof astorage battery forso that considerable.latitudeis provided as;;to.-g00n 0t n a y in and disconnecting tit from a circuit in which it forms thesource of power; said switch comprising a casing formed of insulatingmaterial; a pair of relatively movable, metallic, jaw-forming elementsclosely but slidably fitted in said casing in opposed relation andlaterally enclosing therebetween a substantially cylindrical space; afloating cylinder rotatably mounted in said space, with said elementsforming a bearing therefor, and maintaining said elements in slightlyspaced relation; at least one of said jaw-forming elements being mountedto float within said casing, and said cylinder being mounted to float inall directions around its longitudinal axis, whereby said jawformingelements and said cylinder are selfaligning, thereby maintainingsubstantially constant overall contact throughout their contactingareas; the surface of said cylinder comprising two, slightly spaced,substantially semi-cylindrical metallic portions electrically insulatedfrom each other; resilient means in said casing cooperating with saidfloating jaw element and biased to maintain said elements and saidfloating cyl inder in close surface contact; means extending throughsaid casing and cooperating with said cylinder for manually rotating thesame to open and close said switch; and switch terminals exterior ofsaid casing connected, respectively, to said jaw-forming elements.

3. A rotary switch adapted for direct attachment to the terminal of astorage battery for connecting said battery in and disconnecting it froma circuit in which it forms the source of power; said switch comprisinga' casing formed of insulating material; a pair of metallic, jawformingelements closely fitted in said casing in opposed relation and laterallyenclosing therebetween a substantially cylindrical space; a floatingcylinder rotatably mounted in said space, with said elements forming abearing therefor, and maintaining said elements in slightly spacedrelation; one of said jaw-forming elements being rigidly mounted withinsaid casing and the other of said jaw-forming element being mounted tofloat therein, and said cylinder being mounted to fioat around itslongitudinal axis, whereby said jaw-forming elements and said cylinderare selfaligning, thereby maintaining substantially constant overallcontact throughout their contacting areas; the surface of said cylindercomprising two, slightly spaced, substantially semi-cylindrical metallicportions electrically insulated from each other; resilient means in saidcasing cooperating with at least one of said elements and biased tomaintain said elements and said floating cylinder in close surfacecontact; means extending through said casing and cooperating with saidcylinder for manually rotating the same to open and close said switch;and switch terminals exterior of said casing connected, respectively, tosaid jaw-forming elements; one of said terminals being provided with afrusto-conical passage adapted to embrace the frusto-conical terminal ofsaid battery for attaching said switch directly to said terminal.

WILLIAM C. MASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 1,136,406 Butts Apr. 20, 19151,173,609 Savage et a1. Feb. 29, 1916 1,541,015 Weeks June 9, 19251,615,106 Bethea Jan. 18, 1927 1,950,563 Miller Mar. 13, 1934 1,995,946Schild Mar. 26, 1935 2,427,940 Ayres Sept. 23, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 9,917 Great Britain 1889 386,426 Great Britain Jan.19, 1933

